That's about as deep as my medical knowledge goes too. My poor vet had a time explaining it to me. I didn't know white blood cells are made in the bone marrow. I didn't even realize something could be in your bloodstream but not in your white blood cells. As much as I get annoyed with vets and doctors they do have to go through a lot of training to learn all this stuff.
sent from my AT&T Smartphone by HTC ----- Reply message ----- From: "Beth" <create_me_...@yahoo.com> Date: Wed, Dec 7, 2011 5:57 pm Subject: [Felvtalk] Very Scary Testing results! To: <felvtalk@felineleukemia.org> That's the most easy to understand explanation I've heard yet :) Maureen Olvey <molvey...@hotmail.com> wrote: > >Here's how my vet friend explained things to me which will clarify a little >about what Beth is saying about the IFA test. > >The IFA test looks to see if the virus is in the white blood cells. It's not >a bone marrow test however, white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, >so if the virus is in the white blood cells then it's because it's replicating >in the bone marrow. If it's not replicating in the bone marrow the FeLV virus >could still be in the bone marrow but dormant. You wouldn't know that without >a bone marrow test because it's just sitting there not doing anything and not >spreading or causing problems. > > >So here's what the vet has told me about the all ways of testing: > >The first screening test is the ELISA test. The ELISA test can be performed >two ways. It can be done using a snap test kit in the vet's office or the >blood sample can be sent to a lab where they do a "Well test." The well test >is also an ELISA test that looks for small fragments of the virus in the >bloodstream but just done a different way and uses a much larger blood sample. > The ELISA test that is done with a snap test kit in the vet's office is also >called a combo test because it looks for FIV also. Then there is the 3 way >snap test kit which looks for FIV, FeLV and heartworms. I think the ELISA >test that is done in a well by sending the blood to a lab just looks for FeLV, >not the other two. I'm not positive though. > >So, the ELISA test looks to see if there are small fragments of the virus in >the blood stream. Part of the virus could be in the bloodstream but not in >the white blood cells. It gets into the oral cavities and bloodstream before >it goes into the bone marrow. When it gets into the bone marrow it could >start replicating and then it gets into the white blood cells. The IFA test >looks to see if the virus is in the white blood cells. So from my >understanding, the virus has to progress from the bloodstream into the bone >marrow and replicate like Beth is saying to get into the white blood cells. >Usually once it's starts replicating in the bone marrow and getting into the >white blood cells the cat will not be able to fight off the virus. > >FYI - my vet has also said that the 3 way snap test kits don't seem to be as >reliable as the combo snap test kit. > >So that's a very simple and basic way of explaining the different ways of >testing and what they look at to determine what stage the virus is in as it >spreads throughout the body. That's my understanding and I hope it's correct. > > > > >Date: Wed, 7 Dec 2011 08:12:39 -0800 >From: create_me_...@yahoo.com >To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Very Scary Testing results! > > > >The IFA tests weather the virus is replicating in the bone marrow. You can >have a positive SNAP & a negative IFA. This does NOT mean the cat is negative. >It just means the virus is not replicating in the bone marrow. >Any test can be done wrong & labs can mix up donors with specimins. It happens >with humans, it can certainly happen in our pets. > >Don't Litter, Fix Your Critter! www.Furkids.org > > > > > > > >From: GRAS <g...@optonline.net> >To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >Sent: Wednesday, December 7, 2011 9:21 AM >Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Very Scary Testing results! > >The IFA is not testing the bone marrow, though....that would be yet another >test. > >-----Original Message----- >From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org >[mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Beth >Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 9:57 PM >To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Very Scary Testing results! > >It is possible the SNAP tests were positive & an IFA was negative because >the virus had not progressed to the bone marrow. I also wonder if the SNAP >tests that were positive were done on the new 3way tests. Our shelter >stopped using them because they were not dependable. > >Kat Parker <korruptaki...@gmail.com> wrote: > >>*Very scary.. see below..* >> >>------Original Message------ >>From: Ellen Fawl
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